Free Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers by Fire, Playing Page A

Didn’t you stop to think that might mean you’d have to go out of your way and check up on her every so often?”
    “My apologies, sir.”
    “Get back to work,” Drew replied shortly, his temper flaring. “Before I decide to put you off right here.”
    Henry shuffled off, leaving Drew to stare at his skinny, receding back. He had to think about replacing Henry. He didn’t know how much longer he could tolerate the lad’s insolence, which had gotten steadily worse over the past year.
    He was still shaking his head when he reached his cabin. The door was closed, but unlocked, and when he rapped on it, he got no response.
    He opened the door. Heather had fallen asleep, stretched out on the bed, and looked peaceful. He paused, hand on the doorknob, and smiled. She looked so comfortable, her chestnut tresses spread over the stark white pillows. Her lashes were sooty crescents against her cheeks and her lips were slightly parted. At once, he had the strongest urge to cover those soft lips with his own.
    Although it was nearly summer, the breeze drifting through the open window was cool. Drew unfolded the light quilt at the foot of the bed and drew it over her. She stretched, sighing and grasping the quilt tighter around her.
    It was hard to believe only a week had passed since that fateful night. He felt as though he’d known her so much longer. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder. She was unlike any other woman he’d ever met. One moment she displayed a will of iron. The next, she wilted before his eyes. He didn’t understand. She behaved as if she thought he expected complete obedience — as if she was his slave.
    His slave .
    He groaned softly, dropping his head to the desktop. It suddenly made sense. She knew he’d paid that outrageous sum to Coal. So, if Coal more or less owned her, and Drew paid that sum, Heather must feel that now he owned her instead.
    “No wonder she is so hesitant to disagree with me, or is so quick to refer to me as ‘master.’” He lifted his head and rubbed his eyes ruefully. So far, things weren’t turning out the way they were supposed to.
    Drew sat back, wincing as Bridget popped into his mind. He didn’t want to think about her, not now. How could she still appear so easily, when he tried so hard to keep her from his thoughts?
    Heather stirred and Drew turned. She was awake, stretching, then sitting up. “Oh, you’re back.”
    “I’m back. I apologize for the delay. It took longer than I expected.”
    “Have we left yet?”
    He nodded. “We slipped from port about half an hour ago. Would you care to go topside and take a last look around?”
    “Might I?”
    “Certainly.” He pushed himself up from his chair and walked over to the bed. He held out his hand to help her to her feet, drawing her up beside him. “How was your nap?”
    “Refreshing.”
    He sensed she was still troubled, but it didn’t seem that she was still angry with him. Still, it was best to get everything out in the open. That way, he could avoid any unpleasant surprises once the sun set. “I wanted to apologize for my callous remark earlier, Heather. I did not mean it the way it sounded to you.”
    “Really?” Icicles hung from that one word.
    Then again, perhaps she was still angry with him. He sighed.
    “Really. Heather, you don’t have to worry about how I see you. Trust me, you are every inch the lady.” He touched her cheek. Her skin was so soft, he almost couldn’t help himself. It was like a reflex. “I don’t give a damn where you were when we met. It doesn’t matter.”
    “Oh, but it does matter, Drew. Do you know what your glorified cabin boy said to me?”
    Cold fury welled up from the pit of his stomach as Heather repeated what Henry had said. Anger twisted into a tight fist in his gut. “That son of a bitch.”
    Her expression became quizzical as she stared up at him. “Drew?”
    “Excuse me for a moment,” he replied gruffly, turning away to head for the